“What would you give up to achieve your dream? Once you let go of everything that defines you as a person, all the beliefs that hold you in place like a fly in a spider’s web, anything is possible.”
I wrote down this quote, but now don’t remember where I heard it. I believe it was from an audiobook series I’ve been listening to recently by Carolyn Haynes. Anyway, I knew the quote had a message for me to share with you.
We tell ourselves, and others, how much we sacrifice as we work towards our dreams and goals.
But, here’s the problem. We try to fit our dreams into our spare time, with our spare money, when we’re not too tired or busy doing other things. Then we wonder why we haven’t achieved them.
How important is that dream? What are you really willing to give up to achieve it?
I often see posts on social media stating things like, “I’d rather be doing yoga, but what I keep doing is eating cheeseburgers and binge watching TV.” The truth of the statement is that you’d really rather be eating and binge watching. If yoga were a priority, you’d do it.
What are you willing to give up?
Here’s a hint… if something is important, it won’t feel like “giving up” the other stuff. The other stuff just won’t matter as much.
What this means to me today…
For the last 20+ years, I’ve managed to control my weight with a keto lifestyle. Now, I know this method doesn’t work for everyone, but after trying a bunch of different eating and exercise regimens, this one worked best for me.
At first it was difficult. No bread (oh how I loved to bake and eat fresh bread!), no sugar (there go my chocoholic habits!), and even limited fruits. With determination, I got through the initial adjustment and the cravings were no longer an issue. It was hard. But looking at myself in the mirror, I knew I was willing to “give up” those foods to look and feel better about myself. And it paid off.
Over the years, I’ve loosened up on my dietary restrictions, and, if I find myself getting out of shape again, I simply make the necessary adjustments and get back on track. The “sacrifices” no longer felt like sacrifices. I no longer had the attachment to them as much as the attachment to my health.
After age 50 though, the weight just wasn’t as easily manipulated. My minor dietary adjustments weren’t giving me the results I had come to expect. I had really struggled with my weight and self esteem for a few years before just recently getting back on track. It was the mental depression of how I looked and how my clothes (didn’t) fit that kept me trapped and on a downward spiral. I had to break through the belief that “I couldn’t do it” and that this was “just how it was going to be from now on”.
I finally reached the point where the results I wanted outweighed the sacrifices I knew I’d need to make. It was sort of a “dark night of the soul” moment where I knew I couldn’t go on the same direction. The only way to go was up. It had to be. And so, I was back on strict keto once again.
Once I had mentally let go of what I was giving up (sugar and simple carbs, which is a challenge since I work around food all day) and began enjoying the foods that would get me back on track, it suddenly wasn’t about the sacrifice. And even though my other half doesn’t eat the same way I do (he likes his cereal and hamburger buns) it was easy to fall back into a style of cooking that accommodated both of us.
I’m back in track, down a few pounds with a few more to go. Clothes are fitting again, and most importantly, I feel better about myself.
What are the beliefs that are holding you back? What’s going on in your mind that has you so wrapped up that you can’t, or aren’t, taking action on what you want?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… it’s all about choices.
Whether you want to write a book, start a business, take a trip, lose weight…it doesn’t matter. If you’re not taking action, there’s something else more important. And, if you feel the things filling your time aren’t more important than your goal, then what mindset or illusions in your head are holding you back?
When you let go of the beliefs that are holding you back (like a fly in a spider’s web) who are you really? Who can you become? What can you do?
Another fear I’ve faced recently is letting go of the security of my day job in exchange for more time to write.
Now keep in mind, my day job pays pretty well and my writing doesn’t…yet. But, in order to have more time to write I needed to make a choice. Quitting the job outright isn’t an intelligent choice right now. There are bills to pay. But, I could take a small leap and drop to 4 days a week. Sure, it cuts into the paycheck, but there’s still enough to get by while I put more time and effort into writing.
So it’s a leap of faith.
It’s a gamble that I am willing to take for the potential future payoff.
Again, it’s all about choices.
What I’m Reading This Week
Here are some other ‘stacks that have caught my attention this week. Check them out and subscribe or share if you like what they have to say:
Lots of thoughts on this, Suzanne. I think you're exactly right - we make time for our priorities - and that sometimes means setting something else on a back burner. That can work to our gain or to our detriment, depending on what it is we're setting aside. Good stuff to chew on, for sure (no pun intended). And THANK YOU so much for linking to my recent essay. Grateful to know the piece resonated for you. 🐜 😊❤️